In a major fire tragedy close to 90 people majority of them patients in Kolkata's well known AMRI hospital were killed when a blaze started in the basement of the annexe building early on Friday and toxic fumes quickly spread to the other floors, trapping hundreds of people. It was reported that around 25 fire engines had been pressed into service. The fire fighters were seen using hydraulic ladders to rescue the patients and office staffs by cutting open the glasses with gas cutters. This latest urban disaster only goes to show that all the disaster management trainings or skills and using the latest tools is not going to be enough when dealing with disasters. The question to be raised for those of us in Nagaland is whether we are prepared to take handle emergency such as a major fire breaking out say in the middle of Kohima or Dimapur town. For instance Nagaland government is doing well to raise the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The SDRF is a specialized force trained to handle any kind of disaster whether manmade or natural. The question is whether the current training manuals for disaster management are in tune with meeting the needs of 21st century urban towns and cities. Skills and equipments for instance may not be enough to deal with say fires breaking out in urban areas where greater number of population resides. Fires in urban dwellings can be even more devastating in terms of lives lost and the cost involved in damage to property. Just like having a mitigation plan to prevent forest fire, equally important is to have a clear policy put in place to tackle such hazards as urban fires, earthquakes or other disasters. The fire that broke out at Kolkata’s AMRI hospital is a reminder to the hazards that is lurking around the corner if we do not take some corrective safety measures.
In this regard, while we talk about natural disaster, most accidents are in fact are man made or at least the result of our folly. There is a saying that earthquake does not kill but it is the building that causes the damage to life and property. Forest or urban fires cannot be called ‘natural’. And the solution for these disasters is not just emergency measures and disaster plans but a long-term vision of a whole lot of related issues. For instance how do we deal with the proliferation of housing to accommodate the growing urban population and infrastructure? We need to take urban disaster more seriously both in terms of looking into the root causes of these accidents or disasters and also to be in a position to put safety regulation in place. Obviously one of the most important strategies to fight fire is to have a well functioning fire department. They have to be adequately equipped to deal with fires. But most of us know that the Fire Department is also the most neglected including in Nagaland. Another area of concern is the failure to seriously implement building bylaws. We should look at disaster management beyond just rescue and rehabilitation. Disaster management must in fact begin with the premise to prevent disasters from taking place. For this we have to take a more holistic approach starting with stringent safety measures to be followed while creating infrastructure of any kind or type. If safety is the starting point then disaster/s will be easier to handle and more lives saved.
In this regard, while we talk about natural disaster, most accidents are in fact are man made or at least the result of our folly. There is a saying that earthquake does not kill but it is the building that causes the damage to life and property. Forest or urban fires cannot be called ‘natural’. And the solution for these disasters is not just emergency measures and disaster plans but a long-term vision of a whole lot of related issues. For instance how do we deal with the proliferation of housing to accommodate the growing urban population and infrastructure? We need to take urban disaster more seriously both in terms of looking into the root causes of these accidents or disasters and also to be in a position to put safety regulation in place. Obviously one of the most important strategies to fight fire is to have a well functioning fire department. They have to be adequately equipped to deal with fires. But most of us know that the Fire Department is also the most neglected including in Nagaland. Another area of concern is the failure to seriously implement building bylaws. We should look at disaster management beyond just rescue and rehabilitation. Disaster management must in fact begin with the premise to prevent disasters from taking place. For this we have to take a more holistic approach starting with stringent safety measures to be followed while creating infrastructure of any kind or type. If safety is the starting point then disaster/s will be easier to handle and more lives saved.
